Mattis Sends 800+ Troops To The American Border Ahead Of The Migrant Caravan

CNN and the Associated Press are reporting that Secretary of Defense James Mattis will order 800 active duty troops to the border,to assist the border patrol in keeping the Honduran caravan from illegally entering the United States.

They are being deployed in a nonlethal manner and will be assisting the border patrol and the DHS in preventing the caravan from entering the United States. There are already 2,100 National Guard troops already at the border. At this time, the Defense Department is refusing to confirm or deny the deployment. Gen Mattis is currently traveling overseas and could not be reached for comment.

The Military Times is reporting that the Department of Defense will be deploying “800 active-duty troops, not National Guard forces, to bolster the roughly 2,100 National Guardsmen” already stationed along the border.

CNN and the Associated Press reported on Thursday that Defense Secretary James Mattis could order additional troops to the southern U.S. border as early as this week. CNN claims that officials said the final details on the deployment orders are being worked out. It is not clear if these will be additional National Guard troops or active duty military, the article stated.

President Donald Trump hinted at the military response to the Central American caravan in a tweet on Thursday where he said, “I am bringing out the military for this National Emergency. They will be stopped!”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, stated today that the caravan would not be allowed to enter the country illegally. The caravan is expected by some to arrive before election day. Flatbed trucks are carrying many of them north in order to expedite their arrival at the most politically inopportune time. It has been confirmed that George Soros’ Open Society is one of the sponsors of the caravan.

In an email, Navy Capt. Bill Speaks, a spokesman for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said the Defense Department is continuing to monitor events on the Southwest border, but did not confirm plans to deploy 800 troops. Speaks said the Pentagon expects to soon receive a request for assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, and is now working with DHS to spell out how the military will support Customs and Border Protection.

“DoD is committed to continuing its support to ensure the safety and security of CBP personnel involved in border security operations, increase the effectiveness of those operations, as well as support DHS efforts to stem the tide of illegal entry into the United States,” Speaks said.

And just the past April, Mattis authorized up to 4,000 troops there, if the governor approved.

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